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BASILDON TOWN CENTRE

A new life for a former 'new town'

Our Basildon Town Centre project will be the catalyst for renewal at the heart of one of Britain’s first post-war ‘new towns’. Our proposal breathes new life into Basildon’s original vision of an affordable, mixed-use town centre by rejuvenating the failing retail environment and attracting families back into the town centre. 


We followed an adaptive approach developing a series of measured interventions to the existing buildings and spaces: four residential towers have been seamlessly integrated above the present shopping centre, and new multi-level pathways now connect two key squares, activating under-utilized spaces; while also introducing 500 new-build homes in the airspace above the podium, a raised garden and a new co-work hub (4,000 sqm).

Marson Properties
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER


The adoption of a tower-on-podium typology is aligned with Basildon’s modernist heritage and allows continuity of trading with benefits for both customers and existing leaseholders on site.


The tallest of the new blocks, Tower A, is envisioned as the new Basildon landmark. Guiding and orienting people around the site, its facade is inspired by the memorable faceted face of Brooke House. We designed a double order, by pairing the floors with faceted bands, giving rhythm and human scale to this building. A play of light and shadow is generated across the facade through cranked panels, with added variation and complexity through staggered windows and balconies.


Tower B adopts instead a more linear design.The facade, inspired by another local building in Town Square, has a horizontal primary expression, created through single order floor bandsm enriched with vertical elements arranged in a woven pattern, with window positions varied to create patterns and rhythm.


Tower C and D adopt a similar approach, with a few key variations: Tower C introduces varying depths, in ‘flip-flop’ alternating rhythms to the floor bands, while Tower D has a more regular and simply stacked rhythm. 

Reviving Basildon as an attractive place to live, work and shop